Matador Network's Blog, page 1156

Alpaca yoga at a farm in England

If you’re not into rage yoga and enjoy a peaceful and relaxing setting for your practice, know that there’s more out there than run-of-the-mill studios with wooden floors, burning incense, and New Age music playing in the background.

Owners of Rosebud Alpacas — an alpaca farm in Devon, England — combines yoga with alpacas by offering alpaca yoga to guests. The alpacas are super chill, but they won’t pull downward-facing dog with you — you’ll be practising in a field full of the fluffy mammals while they do their own thing.

Photo: Rosebud Alpacas/Facebook

Nick and Lucy Aylett, the farm’s owners, told The Metro that they want the farm to serve as a “place where people can come to escape, take time out from technology and busy lives, a chance to spend time connecting with the land, the animals and each other.” And don’t worry, the farm gives the alpacas the freedom to move about the farm, approach visitors if they like, or keep to themselves.

Photo: Rosebud Alpacas/Facebook

Lucy Aylett strongly believes in the soothing nature of alpacas, telling Country Living that “I just know from being around alpacas that their calming presence reduces stress. They like you to be calm around them so naturally you drop your energy levels and relax.”

Photo: Rosebud Alpacas/Facebook

The farm also offers experiences and workshops such as alpaca walking, alpaca Tai Chi, and alpaca art sessions. True alpaca enthusiasts can choose to purchase an “alpaca connection” package that includes a guided meditation and mindful observation of the alpacas.

Yoga classes cost $40 per person, and spring classes begin on April 13th. To book, or to browse other alpaca activities offered by the farm, check out the official website.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

More like this: 6 different types of yoga that you can try around the world

The post Alpaca yoga is a thing at this farm in England, and it’s adorable appeared first on Matador Network.

Best places to drink wine in 2019

There’s never a better time to drink wine than right now. Smaller wine regions like Moldova and the country Georgia are sending more wine out into the world. In the US, there are now wineries in every state, as well as wine-specific tasting rooms to show off the region’s capabilities. Traditional winemaking regions like the Languedoc in France are receiving renewed attention. Unfamiliar grapes are being brought to the forefront in new ways.

All this is to say that if you appreciate a good glass of wine — or need more good glasses of wine in your life — then 2019 is looking up. These are the best wine festivals to go to, regions to visit, and winemaking areas to buy bottles from this year. Some are small, some are established, and some are still up and coming. All, however, are worth the trip.

1. Vevey, Switzerland

Photo: canadastock/Shutterstock

On July 18 and for the following three weeks, Vevey, Switzerland, will play host to the Fête des Vignerons, which is one of the world’s largest and longest-running wine festivals. It first started in 1797 and will bring in around 400,000 visitors to the 20,000-person village. The Fête des Vignerons, which was given a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage designation in 2016, only occurs once every 20 years to celebrate the region’s wine harvest.

The festival is run by the Confrérie des Vignerons and is more than just a giant wine tasting. Along with the general party atmosphere and tours there are 20 shows — all of which are wine-themed, naturally. This year, the inaugural three-and-a-half hour show is directed by Cirque du Soleil artistic director Daniele Finzi Pasca.

2. Spain

Photo: Joe Becerra/Shutterstock

Spain is often overshadowed by France and Italy when people are looking to buy a bottle of Old World wine. This should be the year you change that. Spain’s winemaking regions like Navarra, Priorato, and Penedès are coming into their own. The regions that you likely know, like Rioja, are only getting better — especially if you’re looking to visit the area, regardless of whether you like modern complexes like Vivanco or traditional cellars like at Viña Pomal.

This year, go to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in Catalonia in early September for the Fiesta de la Filoxera. The multi-day party tells the story of the phylloxera bug that wiped out much of the European wine industry in the mid-1800s. It’s much less depressing than what the bug brought in Europe, though. It all starts with the first dance of farmers, who represent how calm Sant Sadurní was before phylloxera hit the region. Then all hell breaks loose. Residents dress as the bugs and down absurd amounts of wine while running through the streets with drums and firecrackers, and a parade marches through the street that tells the stages of infestation, hurting grapevines, concerned farmers. A finale fireworks show represents how the bugs were defeated with grapevines that have American roots. The final celebration ends with a cava shower.

3. Trento, Italy

Photo: Kizel Cotiw-an/Shutterstock

You know sparkling Italian wine as Prosecco, but there’s a smaller wine region in the Dolomite mountains that you should be paying attention to: Trento. The wine producing area is in the valleys of the Trentino-Alto Adige mountain range and has a dedicated portion of the winemaking region devoted to sparkling wine that’s comparable to Champagne. Its small size means it can be hard to find bottles in the US, and many of the best bottles don’t even make it stateside at all, so you have to really be there to experience it. But who can complain about a trip to try some of the most interesting bubbly in Europe?

Trento’s surrounding region is just as much worth the visit as the wine is. The Italian Alps make for a breathtaking backdrop, and there’s no shortage of outdoor activities year-round. Go now, though, as Trento is starting to get more attention from wine nerds and fans. If you see it this year you’ll still be ahead of the crowds.

4. New Zealand

Photo: byvalet/Shutterstock

New Zealand’s maritime climate influences every ounce of the 75 million gallons of wine produced here each year. No vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean, and the growing climates are cooler than those of many inland growing regions. Add onto that New Zealand’s seclusion and ample environmental regulations and you have a unique climate for grapes like sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and chardonnay that creates far different expressions than you taste in places like France and California.

The best part for you as a visitor is that no matter where you land — from Auckland to Waipara — great local wine is never far away. More than 500 wineries line both the North and South Islands in 10 major wine producing regions. Interest has been building around New Zealand wines over the past two decades, with exports growing some 24 percent every year. Make this the year you see it for yourself. Stunning views of mountain peaks and open vineyards that stretch to the sea accent the country’s tasting rooms, and the country is the perfect balance of refined and wild.

5. Grand Junction, Colorado

Photo: Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock

Colorado’s only wine region is small but ever-present in a region where nearly all the state’s tourism is built around getting outdoors. The almost two dozen wineries surrounding Grand Junction, western Colorado’s largest city, draw the adventurous crowd by sitting them on a mountain bike and directing them from tasting room to tasting room on the popular winery bike tours. These self-guided romps across the dirt roads and open fields of Mesa County are the perfect fit for a state not lacking in nature-filled endeavors.

To get there, fly into Grand Junction Airport and hop in an Uber toward the neighboring town of Palisade, just a few minutes up I-70. Once there, head to Rapid Creek Cycles to rent a bike and map your own route down the aptly named Fruit and Wine Byway. Get ready for an experience where farm-fresh peaches and other fruits are as much a part of the experience as the grapes themselves. The region’s wines are light and fruity, influenced by the hot days and cool nights of the surrounding desert. Mesa County sees far less snow than Colorado’s high country, meaning these rides are doable from early spring through autumn. The ride itself is mellow and easy, the only tough part is deciding which bed and breakfast to crash in for the night.

6. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Photo: Stan Jones/Shutterstock

British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is the rising star of North American wine regions, an expansive stretch of fertile growing terrain tucked between Vancouver and the Kootenays. The city of Kelowna anchors the region, a lakeside haven surrounded by vineyards and tasting rooms that offers easy access to the entire region. Summer is the best time to visit as you can work off some that cab franc with wakeboard sessions on Okanagan Lake and hikes through the surrounding hill country.

The wine region’s signature annual event, Chef Meets BC Grape, has grown from an exclusive summer get together at See Ya Later Ranch to a three-city affair in Vancouver (April 18), Calgary (May 9), and Okanagan (June 8). All of the dates and places give visitors a taste of Okanagan Valley’s best dishes and wines in one place.

7. Virginia

Photo: Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock

Virginia doesn’t get as much wine attention as states like California, Oregon, Washington, or even New York. Which makes now the best time to go, because that won’t be the case for long. Virginia wine country has attracted winemakers from around the world as a place that they can experiment and branch out from traditional techniques and grapes varieties. Those winemakers, along with a crop of locals, are quickly creating a respectable wine scene. Some are even calling America’s oldest wine region the Wild West of wine.

Virginia’s vineyards are easy to navigate by car. Start up north in the Shenandoah Valley and proceed south through the mountains, then east towards Hampton Roads and finally up the coast to the Chesapeake Bay. The wine is world-class, and it’s a far more affordable experience than trekking through Napa or Sonoma.


More like this: The best place to go wine tasting in all 50 states

The post The 7 most exciting places to travel to drink wine in 2019 appeared first on Matador Network.

Estonians rescue wolf from ice

These kind Estonians could have suffered some pretty serious consequences for their good deed — what they thought was a dog that they rescued from a frozen river turned out to be a wolf.

On Wednesday, Rando Kartsepp, Robin Sillamäe, and Erki Väli, workers on the Sindi dam on the Pärnu river, spotted an animal trapped in frozen water and immediately came to its rescue, clearing a path through the ice for the animal to swim back to shore. Believing the animal was a dog, they dried it with a blanket, carried it to their car, and brought it to a clinic for medical care where it was revealed to be a wolf.

While the situation may sound scary and could have had serious consequences, the wolf’s debilitated state seems to have made the rescue relatively safe. Karstepp told Estonian newspaper Postimees, “We had to carry him over the slope. He weighed a fair bit.” Karstepp explained that while in the car, the animal was “calm, slept on my legs. When I wanted to stretch them, he raised his head for a moment.”

Photo: The Estonian Union for the Protection of Animals (EUPA)

When the wolf arrived at the veterinarian’s office, it was suffering from low blood pressure and hypothermia and needed to be warmed up. Veterinarians were immediately suspicious of the large animal’s true species, but a local hunter finally confirmed that it was, in fact, a young male wolf. Upon learning this piece of information, the clinic staff treated the wolf and put him in a cage for their own safety, in case it became less docile.

The wolf recovered speedily from its plight, was collared, and released back into the wild within the day. The Estonian Union for the Protection of Animals (EUPA), which paid for the wolf’s treatment, thanked “all the participants — especially these men who rescued the wolf and the doctors of the clinic who were not afraid to treat and nurture the wild animal.”

H/T: BBC News

More like this: The 7 best places in the world for dog lovers

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History of the tres leches cake

In March of 2008, I found myself in a pizza restaurant in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras. I was part of a Habitat for Humanity trip, and it was my first time out of the country. I wouldn’t have expected to find a pizzeria in this rural town in the mountains of Central America, but there we were. I wasn’t complaining, though. A long day of digging foundations and hauling wheelbarrows of dirt had left me with a formidable appetite. Plus, it was my birthday.

I wasn’t expecting any kind of recognition for it, apart from a “happy birthday” from my dad, who was also on the trip. And yet, at the end of the meal, out came several of the wait staff singing feliz cumpleaños and carrying a giant cake to the table. It was my first time experiencing the immense hospitality of the people of Honduras, and it was my first time trying pastel de tres leches. As a middling Spanish student I gathered that this must be a “three milks cake” though I had no idea what that meant, and looking at the leaky whitish-yellow cube, I didn’t really think I wanted to know. But I discovered — as anyone who tries it has — that it is actually very delicious, and that the wet, spongy texture is surprisingly refreshing.

It turns out that there’s a lot about tres leches that you wouldn’t expect, from its origins in medieval Europe to its corporate sponsorship in Latin America to its sudden fame halfway around the world in Turkey.

How tres leches was invented

While recipes vary from place to place, tres leches is essentially a sponge cake soaked in a milk mixture and topped with whipped cream or meringue. The three milks in question are evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk or heavy cream. It may sound like an odd dessert choice to the uninitiated, but the cake is absurdly popular in Latin America.

Plenty of countries claim to have invented tres leches, but Mexico has the strongest claim to the original recipe. Nineteenth-century recipes exist for antes, or sherry soaked cakes with custard, fruit, and nuts, in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Oaxaca. It’s not hard to connect the dots from these antes to the tradition of soaked cakes in Europe. Dishes such as English trifles, Italian zuppa inglese, or Portuguese sopa dourada had been around for centuries prior, so it is likely that antes were a new world iteration of an old-world favorite.

The cake tradition transitioned to what would be recognized as tres leches with the invention of canned milk. Canned milk — which is made by removing about 60 percent of the water content — was first developed in the mid-19th century and gained widespread use as a military field ration since it was easily transported and had a long shelf life. Canned milks were so popular for military use that during the World Wars, many companies such as Nestlé — which had been canning milk since the mid-1800s — had a hard time keeping up with demand. War caused obvious distribution problems throughout Europe and Asia, so Nestlé expanded production into Latin America where business flourished. Around this time, perhaps to boost sales in the local market, Nestlé began printing recipes for tres leches cake to go on their cans. And so the Mexican recipe with its roots in old-world Europe found its way onto market shelves throughout Latin America.

Nowadays, tres leches is the standard celebration cake for much of Central America. Its popularity has also moved northward as it’s long been a staple of trendy taquerias in Austin and a familiar item on restaurant menus in Miami. In 2003, Häagen-Dazs and Blue Bell even debuted a tres-leches-flavored ice cream. But the surging popularity of a Latin American dish is not so surprising in the United States, which shares a nearly 2,000-mile border with Mexico and has more than 47 million Latinx citizens. What’s more surprising is the latest nation to catch the tres leches fever: Turkey.

Tres leches’ migration to the Balkans

Photo: /Shutterstock

Around 2014, a new dessert called trileçe started popping up on menus across Istanbul, and it created quite a craze. Although everyone knew that they loved it, no one was quite sure where it came from. The word trileçe itself certainly seems to be a bastardization of tres leches, and the only real difference between the dishes is that in Turkey, the three milks in question often come from three different animals: cow, sheep, and goat.

Albania was likely the first country in the Balkans to adopt tres leches. One theory holds that this time the recipe migration had nothing to do with medieval delicacies or milk-canning conglomerates. This time, it was all about soap operas. Soap operas are huge in the Balkans. As the story goes, Albania began importing Brazilian soap operas to keep up with demand. An episode of a Brazilian soap featured tres leches cake, and viewers were fascinated and inspired. They began reverse engineering the dish in their own kitchens, and before long the recipe — now dubbed trileçe — made it to the busy cafes of Istanbul.

It’s a fascinating story and a quirky parable of modern globalization. However, the accepted origin story may be too simple to be true. For one thing, there’s no mention of the soap episode that tres leches appeared in, let alone the name of the Brazilian series. Furthermore, while it’s common for nations across the Balkans and the Middle East to import soap operas, those imports are coming mostly from Turkey. The soap industry is huge in Turkey. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Turkish soap industry was worth $130 million in 2012, with a large part of that owing to exports of its programming to the rest of the region.

If anything, there’s more evidence of Turkish soap operas invading Latin America than the reverse. In 2014, Chilean television station Mega imported the Turkish soap Binbir Gece and dubbed over it in Spanish to create Las Mil y Una Noches. It became a major hit and sparked a rush on Turkish soap imports. Before long, Turkish series dubbed in Spanish were airing in Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and more.

So once again, it seems, there is a transnational mystery surrounding the simple soaked sponge cake. And while it is not clear what path tres leches took to become trileçe, its story is as rich as the dish itself and a sweet reminder that in our globalized world there is little that belongs solely to one culture or another, and so much that brings us together.


More like this: 8 holiday desserts that prove the world is a sweet, sugary place

The post How tres leches became a phenomenon outside Central America appeared first on Matador Network.

The history of the margarita

No drink can bring the same energy to a crowd of people like a Margarita. The bright and balanced drink hits all the right levels of sweet, sour, salty, and boozy. It’s the most-loved cocktail in the US, according to a Nielsen survey, and it has been since Nielsen started polling bargoers on cocktails in 2016. The Margarita has, in nearly every metric, taken over America. It’s also been bastardized beyond belief.

A classic Margarita is made with two ounces of blanco tequila, one and a half ounces of fresh squeezed lime juice, and one ounce of triple sec. The lime and triple sec fend off any bite from the tequila while the 100-percent agave spirit provides herbaceous notes and just enough of a kick. But that’s only when it’s done right. Tacky restaurants, enterprising chains, and cheap bars often cut costs on America’s favorite cocktail. The Margarita is just as much the most abused cocktail in America as it is the most loved.

This rise to popularity and fall from balanced grace didn’t happen overnight.

How the Margarita was invented and won hearts in the US

The history of the Margarita is as hazy as your mind after too many Margaritas. Depending on who you ask or believe, the cocktail was invented in the 1930s, the 1940s, or doesn’t have a creation date because it’s simply a twist on a classic cocktail that’s far older.

One of the earliest claims is from restaurant owner Carlos Herrera, who invented a drink in 1938 for the German showgirl Marjorie King. King claimed to be allergic to every alcohol except for tequila, which can’t possibly be true but is a great way to score tequila drinks. King didn’t, however, do straight tequila shots. Herrera supposedly took the basics of a tequila shot and turned it into a cocktail: The salt chaser was put on the rim, and the bite of lime added straight into the spirit.

Actress Rita Hayworth says otherwise in another popular origin story. Hayworth’s non-stage name was Margarita Cansino, and she says the drink was invented for her in the 1940s by a bartender in Tijuana. While Tijuana is the best food and drink city along the border, it’s not likely where the Margarita is from. Then there’s singer Peggy Lee, who said the drink was first made for her in Galveston, Texas.

Herrera, Hayworth, and Lee aren’t the only ones claiming the drink. Texas socialite Margaret Sames also claims to have mixed the first Margarita during a house party at her Acapulco vacation spot in 1948. Tommy Hilton (yes, that Hilton) was at the party, and he loved the drink so much, so the story goes, that he started serving it at the bars his hotels.

The issue with most of these origin stories, as the Smithsonian notes, is that a corporate-backed recipe had made its way to the states long before. In a 1945 Jose Cuervo advertisement dug up by The Complete Book of Spirits by Anthony Dias Blue, there’s a promotion for a cocktail with the description, “Margarita: it’s more than a girl’s name.”

The most credible origin of the drink has nothing to do with famous actresses, singers, or brands. The Margarita most likely comes from another cocktail called the Daisy. The Daisy is a type of sour made with liquor, sugar syrup, and citrus and a topping of soda water. Somewhere along the line the spirit was switched to something native to Mexico (tequila) and the name was switched to Spanish (Margarita means daisy). The soda was dropped along the way, and orange liqueur replaced sugar simple syrup. There you have it: a modern Margarita.

The Margarita started popping up more and more in the 1950s as tequila brands like Jose Cuervo solidified their position in the country’s still-new Mexican restaurants. The drink didn’t really take off, however, until the invention of the machine that also killed it.

The universal bastardization of the Margarita

Photo: Chili’s Grill & Bar/Facebook

A lot of bad things have been done to the Margarita. Cheap ingredients are commonly swapped in for anything of substance, let alone quality. Sour mix is dumped from plastic bottles, and mixto tequila from the bottom shelf is thrown in rather than a 100-percent agave tequila that respects the spirit. Few things have done more to harm the modern Margarita while simultaneously making it more popular than ever, though, than the frozen Margarita.

Unlike the classic — and balanced — cocktail, the frozen Margarita has a concrete origin story. Every frozen Marg served from Tours to Tallahassee has its roots in Dallas, Texas. In 1971, Mariano Martinez opened Mariano’s Hacienda in East Dallas. He served classic Tex-Mex food and dished out Margaritas to wash it all down. The latter was so popular that his bartenders had a hard time keeping up with demand in a consistent manner. Something had to change, and that change hit Martinez while he was at a 7-Eleven staring down a Slurpee machine.

According to legend, Martinez and his friend, Frank Adams, purchased an old soft-serve ice cream machine and adjusted its settings until it could churn out the perfect frozen Margarita. It was an instant hit, and copies quickly followed. Mariano’s is still open today. To see the original frozen Margarita machine, however, you’ll have to go to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which keeps the original machine for posterity and proof to future generations that we have a frozen Margarita problem.

The frozen Margarita was far from the first offering of the cocktail, but it was the one that catapulted it onto the national stage. In 1975, Chili’s Grill & Bar opened in Dallas. The opening menu had burgers, tacos, and frozen Margs. Over time, the Margs became just as much a staple of Chili’s as the brand’s sizzling fajitas. Franchises opened across the country to the now 1,600-plus locations, bringing the signature Chili’s Margarita menu along wherever it went. On that menu, you can see what went wrong with America’s favorite cocktail.

In 1994, Chili’s debuted the Presidente Margarita. It’s the flagship Margarita at a place that is very much focused on its Margarita selection (there are more than 10 Margs at any one time on a Chili’s menu). It’s made with tequila, orange liqueur, brandy, and Chili’s proprietary sweet and sour mix. It’s shaken by hand 25 times and poured into a glass that’s too small to hold it, so the extra is left in the blue plastic shaker on your table.

There are lots of cheap versions of the Margarita out there, but nowhere has had quite as large an impact on spreading mediocre Margs as Chili’s has — and I feel confident saying that as someone who has tried every version on the menu (no really, every single one).

The shadow of Margarita’s dark days still hang around, but things are starting to look up.

How the Margarita is back on the come up

Photo: Maksim Fesenko/Shutterstock

All is not lost for the Margarita. Two factors are bringing the drink back to its rightful place among the classics: the rise of better cocktails in general and the increase in the amount of premium tequila on the US market.

“With the influx of more premium tequilas in the market today, people are drinking the spirit in different ways,” Sofia Partida, the national brand ambassador for Partida Tequila, tells Matador. “Tequila is being used as the preferred spirit in cocktails that were once gin, vodka, or even scotch based. Tequila mules, tequila and tonics, and tequila Old Fashioneds are appearing on cocktail menus throughout the nation as we see a rise in education and interest in premium tequilas like Partida. The evolution of the Margarita in the last 15 years is more about highlighting the taste of the tequila with just fresh lime and agave nectar rather than masking it with sweet syrups.”

The amount of tequila Americans drink every year grows around six percent, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, while the increase of super and high-end premium tequilas rose, respectively, 700 and 292 percent since 2002. It’s safe to say that none of that growth would have been possible without the popularity of the Margarita driving people’s interest in the tequila category as a whole.

“People are definitely sipping tequila and mezcal more than ever,” says Matthew La Rue, founder and owner of Taqueria Diana in New York City, “but the Margarita is always going to be the best introduction to those spirits.”

There are still plenty of bad Margaritas to be found out there. You probably don’t have to look farther than your town’s most popular chain restaurant. There are also, however, so many good Margaritas now. The rise of the farm-to-table movement and the push for quality cocktail bars in the US prompted an increase of places using fresh, quality ingredients. In other words, all the new high-end tequilas aren’t being wasted when a customer decides they want it in a cocktail.

Along with the ingredients, bartenders are making riffs on the drink that keep the balance. Many prefer Tommy’s Margarita, which uses agave nectar instead of triple sec. Others are embracing mezcal as the spirit becomes more popular. Some, like La Rue, are doing both with a Tommy’s-style Margarita made with a half ounce of agave, three-quarters of an ounce of lime juice, one ounce of blanco tequila, and one ounce of mezcal.

“The original Margarita has long established itself as a true American classic cocktail,” Mark Howard, owner of Chamucos Tequila, says. “Sweeteners such as blue agave nectar, brown sugar simple syrup and a variety of liqueurs are often used in Margaritas rather than triple sec or orange based liqueurs. Grapefruit, lemon, mandarin and orange sometimes accompany the lime juice or replace it. Modern mixologists, creative bartenders and chefs will always dream up amazing new tequila cocktails but the Margarita will always be the classic tequila cocktail here in the US.”

A classic that seems unwilling to give up the crown as America’s most loved — and most mishandled — cocktail.


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The post How the Margarita took over America — and lost its soul along the way appeared first on Matador Network.

Best places for solo female travel

As much as we love travel, there’s no denying it can be tough. That goes double for solo travelers. And double that for solo female travelers. Going it alone can make a trip that much more enriching and empowering, encourage you to take risks and make new friends along the way, but choosing the right first adventure is crucial to ensure solo travel doesn’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. For women, no matter how fearless, that probably means picking someplace safer than most, at least moderately progressive, and easy to navigate both geographically and socially. Get your feet wet with these seven female-friendly destinations before swan diving headfirst into the big blue marble.

1. Singapore

Photo: Travel man/Shutterstock

Foreigners are bound to attract some stares in Singapore, but solo female travelers aren’t likely to be ogled any more than solo male travelers or even groups of travelers. It’s a busy city-state, so be prepared for a bit of bustle, but take solace in the fact that your personal space will be respected. Singapore also puts a premium on rule following. Be sure to learn the local laws and customs, and trust that the city-state’s commitment to orderliness will make sure everything goes smoothly for you. One look at how clean downtown is and you’ll be instantly reassured.

Singapore is diverse and multicultural, so choosing it for a first solo trip in Asia is a nice way to see more than just how Singaporeans live. There’s a massive Chinatown and Little India, both of which are safe to explore in the evening, which is good because you’ll probably be stopping at every street food stand you see from the moment you wake up to the minute you force yourself to call it a night. Add in things to see and do like the botanic and public gardens, shopping on Orchard Row, and escapades at Palawan Beach, and you may never leave.

2. Chile

Photo: Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock

Anyone looking to travel South America should consider Chile as a first trip. The quality of life in Chile is high compared to that of its neighboring nations, and many of the dangers and hassles you’ll experience elsewhere on the continent don’t seem to apply here. That means everything from buses actually arriving on time to hotels actually living up to their star ratings, especially in Santiago, one of the all-time safest cities in South America.

As far as activities go, Chile is an even more obvious choice. Outdoor opportunities range from surfing to skiing to learning what silence really sounds like in Torres del Paine National Park. While you won’t have to worry much about walking around on your own, trekking solo is never advisable, so look for a tour if you plan to go deep into the wild. That’s true anywhere, but in Chile, you’re almost guaranteed a great guide and like-minded group, some of whom you might even want to link up with for longer. After all, solo travel doesn’t have to mean traveling alone.

3. Tel Aviv, Israel

Photo: Fotokon/Shutterstock

Whatever concerns you might have about visiting Israel on your own will quickly be assuaged when you touch down in Tel Aviv. Largely because you’re bound to run into at least a few women doing the exact same thing — with rave reviews. Despite what some headlines suggest, violent crime is relatively uncommon in Tel Aviv, and petty crime pales in comparison to some other big cities you wouldn’t think twice about visiting.

Israel’s capital is liberal and cosmopolitan, and gender equality is progressing with every passing year. The city hosts a weeklong annual Pride festival in testimony of its tolerance on top of a regular rotation of all-inclusive events like live music extravaganzas, beer and food fests, and art fairs. There’s always something fun for solo travelers to do, even if it’s as simple as tanning with the masses on the beach, drowning yourself in yet another tub of hummus, or clubbing until the sun comes up. Jaffa alone will have you head over heels for Tel Aviv. Where else are there ancient mosques within earshot of DJs playing the trendiest bars in town?

4. New Zealand

Photo: Naruedom Yaempongsa/Shutterstock

In 2018, New Zealand secured second place on the Global Peace Index’s ranking of the most peaceful countries around the world and eighth on the World Happiness Report. It’s easy to get around wherever you are thanks to extensive and reliable public transport, and the country is accommodating to travelers on both ends of the budget spectrum. It’s also no stranger to solo female travelers and famously amiable, so you’ll have no problem meeting new people.

The hardest part about traveling to New Zealand is deciding where to go — and realizing you probably can’t fit everything into one trip. The North Island is home to the nation’s capital, Wellington, and its biggest city, Auckland, both of which have world-class restaurants, bars, museums, and art galleries in view of fantastic, even fantastical, landscapes. New Zealand is Middle Earth, after all. The biggest draws on the South Island are Queenstown for adrenaline junkies and natural wonders like Aoraki and Abel Tasman National Park for outdoorsy types. Whether you mix and match or stick to one island, you’re rarely more than a day trip away from volcano hikes, beach escapades, winery tours, and anything else you could possibly dream up.

5. Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica

Photo: Cocos.Bounty/Shutterstock

There’s a reason Costa Rica is so popular with American expats. Several reasons, actually, all of which make it just as tempting for solo travelers. Because the tourist trail is so well paved, Costa Rica is someplace you can feel comfortable straying from the hottest spots. Enter the Caribbean Coast. Around three or four hours by car from capital city San Jose, the Caribbean Coast is less developed than much of the country but far from lacking in tourist infrastructure.

For a happy medium, set your sights on Puerto Viejo, a surf haven turned destination even for those who’ve never set foot on a shortboard. The backpacker vibe is fueled by a constant hum of reggae and reggaeton, plus tons of cheap, delicious eats like rondón, or seafood stew. Nearby is Manzanillo, a beach village situated within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife and Marine Refuge, and Punta Uva, arguably the most beautiful beach on the Caribbean Coast and a hotspot for snorkelers. When you need a break from the new friends you’ll invariably meet, hop on a boat headed for Tortuguero National Park. March through October is nesting season for green sea turtles, and this just so happens to be the best place to catch the live show.

6. Ireland

Photo: Joseph Molloy/Shutterstock

Avoiding a language barrier isn’t a bad idea for a first-time solo trip. Sure, you won’t always understand the thickest of Irish accents, and you’ll definitely pick up some new vocab, but at the end of the day, the fact that Ireland is English-speaking will be a huge boon. Travelers will also be pleased to learn that Irish hospitality is very real, so not only will you be able to ask for help without issue, but there will also always be someone around willing to lend a hand.

Of course, this also leaves little chance of escaping friendly banter with strangers down at the pub. Thankfully, unlike bars the world over, most Irish pubs are neighborhood spots where you’ll see families sharing meals opposite singles slinging Guinnesses at the bar. While it’s always good to keep your wits about you, especially when alcohol is involved, you won’t have to worry about attracting as much unwanted or aggressive attention as you will elsewhere.

Whether you rent a car and drive the Ring of Kerry or stick to exploring the streets of Dublin, transportation is easy to arrange and just as easy on your wallet. Ditto for accommodations. Everything else about the storied, scenic Emerald Isle speaks for itself.

7. Copenhagen, Denmark

Photo: Avirut S/Shutterstock

If we could only recommend one region for solo female travelers, it’d be Scandinavia. Hands down. Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark routinely snag top spots on lists of the safest and happiest countries in the world, with Denmark often leading the charge. It’s a global frontrunner when it comes to gender equality and overall quality of life, making it one of the absolute best place for women to live according to a 2018 US News and World Report.

Spend any amount of time in the Danish capital and you’ll begin to understand why. Copenhagen is impossibly charming, from the colorful canal district Nyhavn to the antique amusement park Tivoli Gardens. The city’s coffee and cocktail cultures mean great cafes and bars for people watching, the official pastime of solo travelers, and there are 15 Michelin-starred restaurants and tons of other delicious dining options to balance out whichever adult-beverage buzz you’re experiencing. For a city dripping with hipster cred and Scandi cool, Copenhagen never teeters into too-trendy-for-the-average-traveler territory. It cares more about hygge, a Danish word that loosely translates to a feeling of coziness. So despite how untouchably hip everyone dresses, you’ll quickly discover a warm, helpful crop of locals who’ll make the city feel as comfy as that pair of sweatpants you’ve been breaking in for the last 10 years.


More like this: 7 things you need to know about the woman who travels solo

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Things to do in northern Patagonia

In Chile, local legend tells how that land came to be. In the beginning, God created the world and all its natural wonders. When he finished, he realized he had many leftover pieces: oceans, rivers, mountains, lakes, deserts, rocks, glaciers. Rather than let them go to waste, God put them all together and cast them off to the most remote corner of the world. And so Chile was born.

Spend enough time in Chile and you’re sure to understand how this myth arose. The South American country has many incredible and diverse landscapes to explore, most of them miraculously untouched. And yet year after year most travelers visiting Chile will flock to one destination above all others: Torres del Paine National Park in southern Patagonia. And while this wonder of the natural world is certainly deserving of attention, traveling to Chile just to see the Torres is like going to the Louvre just to see the Mona Lisa.

In 2012 I had the privilege to live in a lesser-known part of Chile, the Lakes Region, or Región de Los Lagos. While it receives comparatively little international attention, this gateway to Patagonia has everything an adventure traveler could want and is much more accessible than the far-flung Magallanes Region that holds Torres del Paine.

Fly fishing the Río Maullín

Photo: Pavel Svoboda Photography/Shutterstock

If you’re an angler, you’ll be shocked to see how empty the gorgeous rivers and streams of southern Chile are. This is not for lack of fish. While trout are not native to Patagonia, they have been thriving both in size and in numbers since being introduced in the early 20th century. The main problem here is access; the best trout waters in Los Lagos are big rivers in remote backcountry. If you’re looking to land a fat trout, it’s best to go with a guide.

Most guided trips are likely to be pontoon floats where you’ll be chucking massive streamers on sinking lines. We booked a trip through Tres Ríos Lodge to float the Río Maullín, which winds its way from Lago Llanquihue westward to the ocean. The all-day float included all the equipment we needed; an expert guide to paddle the boat, rig up our lines, and land fish; and even a riverside lunch complete with a couple bottles of Chilean wine. As we looked at the land around us, we saw no other soul — just some cattle grazing in nearby fields — and we were catching massive brown trout almost constantly.

Climbing in Valle de Cochamó

Photo: sjh-photo/Shutterstock

If the Cochamó Valley were in the United States, it would undoubtedly be one the most popular national parks in the country. Tucked deep in the Andes, just on the Argentine border, the Valle de Cochamó bears a striking resemblance to Yosemite. And much like Yosemite, the giant granite faces of Cochamó are a mecca for hundreds of rock climbers who flock to the valley every summer. Yet outside of the climbing community, this natural wonder is largely unknown to the outside world — including many of the residents of the Lakes Region.

This is mostly due to its intense isolation. There are no roads leading in or out of the valley from either side of the border. For over a century, the only route traversing the valley has been a cattle trail, which Argentine gauchos, or cowboys, used to drive their cattle to the Pacific to be shipped up north. Should you decide to visit the valley, you’ll need to set aside a full day to make the hike from the Reloncaví sound or enlist the help of a gaucho to outfit you with horses and pack mules. Upon arrival in the valley, you can camp in the common area called La Junta, or you can pay to stay in a refugio, or rustic shelter attended to year-round. From your base camp you can journey out to scale the giant granite faces, hike to sweeping vistas of the valley and the Reloncaví sound, or even continue on through the León pass all the way to Argentina.

Paddling the Islands of Chiloé

Photo: Scott Biales/Shutterstock

Located just 60 kilometers southwest of the city of Puerto Montt, Chiloé Island, or La Gran Isla Chiloé, is the second largest island in Chile and the fifth largest in South America. It is just one of dozens of islands that make up the Chiloé Archipelago, a bucolic region known for its rich culture and rolling pastoral landscapes. The island and its inhabitants, referred to as Chilotes, hold a special charm for the people of the Los Lagos region — probably because of the island’s isolation. Until very recently, the only way to reach the island has been via ferry. Regular flight service from Puerto Montt began in 2012, and a much-anticipated bridge is set to open in 2020. While these improvements in access are sure to bring more tourism to the island, the best way to see this unique area is from the water.

A number of outfitters around Chiloé offer sea kayaking expeditions, from half-day excursions to nearly weeklong expeditions. Traversing the quiet waterways that connect the islands of Chiloé, you will pass ancient moss-covered churches, soft green hills, and colorful stilted houses knowns as palafitos. You may even catch a glimpse of some marine wildlife including porpoises, sea otters, and even Humboldt penguins. No matter how long you paddle or where your journey takes you, don’t leave the archipelago without trying the island delicacy called curanto. A seafood boil traditionally prepared in a hole in the ground, this stew of meat, shellfish, potatoes, and vegetables is the perfect recovery food after a long day of paddling on the cold Pacific.

Rafting the Futaleufú

Photo: Guaxinim/Shutterstock

If you’re the type of traveler who needs an adrenaline rush, then you’ll want to make your way down to the southernmost reaches of Los Lagos to the Futaleufú River. Widely considered one of the best whitewater rafting rivers in the world, the Futaleufú (known commonly as the Futa) cuts a rumbling course through rocky canyons in the Andes into Yelcho Lake. This stretch of river alone fuels a thriving adventure tourism industry in the town of Futaleufú, and it’s can’t-miss water for hardcore paddlers and adrenaline junkies.

You won’t have any problems finding an outfitter for your trip, and you won’t be short of options either. The Futa contains class three, four, and five rapids. You can go on a trip as short as a half day or as long as nine days. Most outfitters will accommodate private floats, or you can hop on a boat with thrill seekers from around the world. And if the action on the river is too intense for you, don’t worry — there’s plenty of other things to do. Most outfitters that run whitewater trips also offer guided hikes, fly fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Skiing atop Volcán Osorno

Photo: Guaxinim/Shutterstock

Ever been skiing on an active volcano? In Chile, you’ll have plenty of chances. Due to its position in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Chile is home to around 100 active volcanoes, many of which are at such high elevation that they stay snowcapped year-round. There are over a dozen in the Los Lagos region alone, including Volcán Calbuco, which captured the world’s attention when it erupted spectacularly in April of 2015.

Needless to say, there are no ski slopes on Calbuco. But its neighbor, the picturesque Volcán Osorno, is one of the most popular ski destinations in southern Chile. Just an hour drive from the popular tourist town of Puerto Varas, towering over the sapphire waters of Lago Llanquihue, Volcán Osorno Ski & Outdoor offers some of the most scenic skiing in all of Chile. And while the dozen runs offered may not keep you busy for days, the incredible scenery makes it worth it. If you’re not much of a skier, they also offer snow tubing and snowshoeing, and hiking is popular here in the summer.


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The post Chile’s Lake District: The underrated alternative to southern Patagonia appeared first on Matador Network.

World’s largest bee rediscovered

The mere sight of this bee would send many into an instant panic, but for the team of North American and Australian experts who rediscovered it last January, it was instant jubilation.

The giant bee, known as Wallace’s giant bee (Megachile pluto), was believed to be lost to science until scientists finally found a single live female on a small Indonesian island called North Moluccas in January 2019. Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, the famous British naturalist who discovered the species in 1859 on the island of Bacan in Indonesia, the bee had not been seen since 1981 when biologist Adam Messer discovered six nests in the same area.

The bee is the world’s largest, as long as an adult thumb, with a wingspan of two-and-a-half inches and large, pointy jaws. Wallace described the bee as “a large black wasp-like insect, with immense jaws and a stag-beetle.”

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Une publication partagée par Global Wildlife Conservation (@global_wildlife_conservation) le 21 Févr. 2019 à 8 :21 PST

Clay Bolt, a photographer who was part of the recent expedition, said, “It was absolutely breathtaking to see this ‘flying bulldog’ of an insect that we weren’t sure existed anymore, to have real proof right there in front of us in the wild. To actually see how beautiful and big the species is in life, to hear the sound of its giant wings thrumming as it flew past my head, was just incredible.”

The rediscovery is a positive indicator that the region’s forests may still be hospitable to one of the world’s rarest insects. It’s also hoped to encourage further research regarding the bee and efforts to protect it from extinction. Robin Moore, with Global Wildlife Conservation, said, “By making the bee a world-famous flagship for conservation, we are confident that the species has a brighter future than if we just let it quietly be collected into oblivion.”

H/T: BBC News

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Photos of the perfect day in Tokyo

On an early fall trip to Tokyo, Japan, we spent the day exploring the city’s temples, Tokyo’s old and new fish markets, and hidden neighborhoods. We learned about Japan’s famous beckoning cat, studied the art of sushi-making, saw the busiest intersection in the world, and explored streets jam-packed with tiny bars. Here are some of the best images from that trip to inspire the perfect day in Japan’s capital.




1

Like small windows into the past, preserved temples are speckled throughout Tokyo. We choose one that is close to our accommodation and end up venturing to the famous Gōtokuji Temple.

2

As legend has it, Gōtokuji Temple is the birthplace of the beloved maneki-neko, or the lucky beckoning cat. Beckoning a feudal lord in from an approaching thunderstorm, the cat became a sign of good luck, and hundreds of beckoning cats are found throughout the temple.

3

Wanting to learn more about culture as well as local food, we find a sushi-making class that integrates culture and sightseeing. Sushi Mafia has a backstage pass into the new fish market -- the Toyosu Market that opened in 2018 -- and we were able to tour the market’s wholesale area. Here, we watch a knife craftsman refurbish a rusting knife.

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4

The tour takes us to the Tsukiji Market, the old fish market. We learn about the evolution of the market as well as the variety of shops that make up the network of outdoor corridors. Sushi Mafia takes us into a shop where we watch as a live fish that is going to be used for our sushi-making class is taken from a barrel and learn how the fisherman severs its nerves and kills the fish.

5

We head back to the traditional Japanese-style house that Sushi Mafia calls its lab, and a master sushi chef teaches us how to fillet a fish. We then learn how to properly form sashimi. As we try to imitate his flawless technique at our own sushi-making stations, he demonstrates his perfection of the craft by taking a blowtorch to the dish he’s preparing.

6

After filling up on food while indulging ourselves in a lesson on Japanese culture, we make our way to the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. Located along the streets of a bustling shopping district, the stairs take us up to a mirror enclosed landing, which reflects the pedestrians below at every angle.

7

Wanting to explore the city by foot a bit more, we decide to head for what is often said to be the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuya Crossing. Classic cars cruise the streets before all ways of traffic are brought to a complete standstill. Tourists, businessmen, and families alike flood the intersection from every direction.

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8

The grounds of the Imperial Palace are another calm oasis tucked into the busy streets of Tokyo. The juxtaposition of city life next to grounds with ducks slowly floating across a still pond provides the perfect spot to sit and rest while exploring the city.

9

After taking a rest at the Imperial Palace, next on our agenda is an Izakaya food tour. On our way there, we spot glowing lanterns and with them another hidden gem. With an entrance situated between two towering office buildings, the Hanazono Shrine is an ancient Shintō shrine.

10

We decide on an Izakaya tour with Ninja Food Tours and are shown an entire piece of the city we would never have found on our own. The street here, which is nestled in bustling Shinjuku, is in an area called Golden Gai. It is one of those rare areas of Tokyo that takes you back in time and hasn’t been redeveloped. Each bar only sits around five to six people, and there can be anywhere from 80 to 100+ bars in this strip alone.

11

Ninja Food Tours takes us away from the touristy spots, and we dive into some local izakayas, which are informal Japanese pubs, often used for after-work drinking. Plates of fresh fish and local fare are brought in smaller servings so that we are all able to sample a variety of dishes.

12

The tour takes us through the winding streets of Tokyo, and our guide explains many pieces of the intricate culture that surrounds us. The street above is home to “hostess” bars as well as family-friendly restaurants featuring robots, all contributing to the unique atmosphere at many of these thoroughfares.

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The post A perfect day in Tokyo in 12 beautiful photos appeared first on Matador Network.

Best German islands to visit

Germany’s islands are the country’s most underrated spots. With coastlines along both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, these offshore destinations are a chance to see the country in a different light and explore some of its most pristine and alluring landscapes. If you’re looking for calm waters and a chill vibe, head to the islands in the Baltic Sea. If you’re in search of wilder terrain with crisp sea breezes and crashing waves, make your way to the North Sea islands. We’ll help you make your mind with a guide to six amazing German islands that are worth checking out.

1. Rügen

Photo: Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock

The country’s largest island, Rügen is also the best-known German island. In recent years, this Baltic Sea destination has become a popular holiday spot due to its proximity to Berlin. Within just three or four hours from the capital, you can be relaxing in one of the many seaside resort towns on the island. Exploring the island’s impressively flat landscapes can easily be done by bike or on foot via the tree-lined paths that link the island’s elegant 19th-century resorts with seaside harbors and white sandy beaches.

Jasmund National Park, the smallest national park in all of Germany, is on Rügen. There you can hike through the UNESCO-protected beech forest towards the famous Königsstuhl, or King’s chair, which is the most majestic section of the island’s white chalk cliffs. For the best views of the cliffs, take a boat tour around the peninsula. Just a few miles to the north, Cape Arkona is also worth a visit — not only can you enter a former Cold War-era naval command bunker there, but it also yields an impressive view of the entire island.

Rügen is also home to Prora, the massive seaside resort that the Nazis built in the late 1930s as part of their Kraft durch Freude (Strength through Joy) program. Located on the most beautiful bay on the island, Prorer Wiek, the complex consists of eight large and identical buildings that stretch nearly three miles down the beach. At its peak, 20,000 people were meant to spend their holidays there simultaneously, manifesting the ethos that every working German deserves a day at the beach. Today some rooms are used as a gallery space while another section houses a small museum that explains the history of the site. The building is also home to Germany’s largest youth hostel and, after significant debate within Germany, much of the building has been or is being transformed into luxury condos and hotels.

If you’re driving from the German mainland, you can reach the island via the toll-free Rügenbrücke or Rügendamm bridges across the Strelasund channel from Stralsund. By train or bus, you can catch a direct connection from almost any nearby city using an InterCity train or a FlixBus.

Once on the island, you can jump aboard the nostalgic steam locomotive, affectionately named Rasender Roland (Racing Roland), which serves as part of the island’s public transport system. Racing Roland runs every two hours (daily) between the small towns of Putbus and Göhren, stopping in Binz, Sellin, and Baabe on the way. Railroad enthusiasts can even ride in the driver’s cab to watch the work of train drivers and stokers as the train wriggles its way across the island on its narrow railway.

2. Sylt

Photo: Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock

Sylt is the largest of Germany’s East Frisian islands, located in the North Sea, and is home to over 25 miles of sandy white shores. Beginning with the first signs of spring, nearly 12,000 beach chairs (or strandkörbe) appear on the beaches and remain there until fall. For a small fee, you can rent yourself a beach basket on a daily or weekly basis and have your own personal oasis to chill. On Sylt, there is a beach for everyone, ranging from those seeking a quiet place, dog owners, and surfers to people wishing to forego their swimsuits and sunbath among the like-minded.

The island is incredibly diverse. On the west, you’ll find rough surf while on the east you’ll find the calm Wadden Sea with its tidal flats. In between, there is a vast expanse of unspoilt dunes and green dykes with wildflowers in bloom in the spring and summer. The island has 12 villages, each one with its own distinct character.

There’s plenty you can do on the island — sailing, surfing, horseback riding, cycling — but what you absolutely don’t want to miss is the opportunity to witness Sylt’s very own sport: Ring Riding. The bizarre activity consists of a rider on horseback armed with a lance riding full speed toward a brass ring that’s hardly larger than half an inch in diameter. Spearing the ring gets you a round of cheers but also some points toward earning the title of Ring Riding King or Queen. Attend a match between May and August on the east end of the island.

One of the island’s many specialties is oysters. These delicacies come directly from Dittmeyer, Germany’s only oyster farm, which is located on a 74-acre area in the Wadden Sea mudflats off the shores of the village of List. You can even pair the local seafood with a glass of the island’s wine, 55° Nord. The first vines were planted in Sylt in 2009, creating Germany’s northernmost vineyard.

You can easily get to Sylt by plane, train, or boat. International flights connect with domestic airlines for the trip to the island, and Lufthansa schedules regular flights to Sylt from Germany’s larger cities, including Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. By train, you can use one of the connections from many European cities to Hamburg and take the hourly train to Sylt. Even if you want to take your car to Sylt, the final leg of your trip will be by train. The only land connection to the island is the Hindenburgdamm, a seven-mile causeway that carries train traffic from mainland Germany. Alternatively, you can hop on the Sylt Ferry, which operates year-round from Havneby to List. You can drive onto the ferry and take your car with you to Sylt, or you can travel as a walk-on passenger.

3. Usedom

Photo: Stefan Dinse/Shutterstock

This Baltic Sea island advertises itself as being one of the places in Germany that gets the most hours of sunshine every year, making it a popular vacation spot for Germans and Poles. In the summer months, lounging on the beach can easily fill up your days, but there is also a full calendar of events happening on the island. In the winter months, you’ll find ice bathing and dog sled races on the agenda; in the spring and summer, the island hosts a number of festivals, focusing on music, literature, and food. For the fitness enthusiasts, there are many cycling and triathlon events each year, which is no surprise as there are over 125 miles of cycling paths and 250 miles of hiking trails on the island.

The so-called Imperial Spas, a trio of health resorts along the seashore that used to be frequented by the German emperor Wilhelm II, are a must-see. These include Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf, and Bansin. It’s also worth spending an afternoon wandering through the historic town of Usedom itself or visiting the largest butterfly conservatory in Europe in Trassenheide.

For those looking to escape the more touristy areas of the island, you can seek out solitude among the lush forests, sparkling lakes, and fishing villages in the Achterland area of the island. You can hike or cycle through the vast moorland and salt marsh landscape, which provides a rare environment for a host of animals and plants. Worthwhile destinations in this area include the artists’ village of Benz with its art cabinet, the Dutch windmill, and the Feldstein Church. The villages of Mellenthin, Morgenitz, and Liepe with their traditional thatched-roof houses and the ports in Kamminke and Balm are also worthwhile.

Usedom is well connected to the mainland throughout the year. There are direct flights from Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Zurich to the island’s airport. You can also reach Usedom from anywhere in Germany by train. InterCity trains from Hamburg and Berlin and regional trains arrive at the stations in Stralsund and Züssow. From here you can catch a Usedomer Bäderbahn connecting train, which will take you across the Wolgast bridge along the coast to every resort on the island, including the Polish city of Świnoujście.

4. Juist

Photo: dirkr/Shutterstock

With a population of just over 1,500 residents, this cozy little North Sea island is just 4.5 miles from the German mainland and the perfect retreat spot. The island itself is home to a number of natural wonders, ranging from the endangered bird species that nest there to the seal colonies that can be found basking in the sun on the island’s western beaches. In between, you can find endless rolling dunes and white-sand beaches to explore.

When the tide has gone out, you can walk along the ocean floor for miles where the North Sea and the Wadden Sea meet. However, be sure to check the tide times before venturing out or explore the area with a licensed guide. The tide tends to come in quickly and, when coupled with a sudden rise in sea fog, can make for a dangerous situation.

If you’re heading out for the day — hiking, cycling, or on a horse and carriage ride — Domäne Bill on the western side of the island is the perfect destination for a bite to eat. This former farm turned restaurant serves homemade specialities, including a delicious, sweet white bread with raisins and butter.

With only two small villages on the island, Loog and Juist are where most of the main attractions can be found. This includes several wellness and spa centers known for their use of Thalassotherapy. On the southern coast of the island, there’s a selection of high caliber bars and restaurants, as well as the opportunity to rent sailboats or jump aboard a boat for an excursion to a neighbouring East Frisian island.

There are no cars on the island, only bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. The island itself is only 10 miles long and a mere 0.3 miles wide at its narrowest point, so it’s easy to get around. There are plenty of bike rental facilities in the two main villages.

Getting to Juist shouldn’t cause you to worry. The island has its own airport with FLN-Frisia Luftverkehr offering scheduled service between the mainland and the other Frisian islands. Most visitors, however, take the ferry from Norddeich on the mainland to the island, with services arriving daily and taking just over an hour each way.

5. Langeoog

Photo: ThomBal/Shutterstock

With a population only slightly larger than that of Juist, Langeoog is another one of Germany’s East Frisian islands. Emblazoned on postcards, hats, and t-shirts, the quirky little island has proudly embraced the motto: “No sharks, no cars.” Even if cars were allowed on the island, you wouldn’t need one — everything on Langeoog is within walking distance.

A trip to Langeoog is about spending time outdoors. The island has nine miles of white-sand beaches and undulating terrain of sand dunes, some of which stand 66 feet high. There are many cycling and hiking paths that lead visitors around the entire island, passing sandy beaches, salt marshes, and dune landscapes. Cyclists can easily cover the length of the island in a day, riding to the island’s easternmost point to watch seals and birds from the vantage point of a nature lodge. The restaurant and bar Meierei, also on the east end of the island, offers a rustic atmosphere where you can enjoy a quick beer and some German snacks before leisurely making your way back to the town center.

In the summer, there are a number of day trips you can arrange from the island. These include boat excursions to neighbouring islands or to visit the seals on the island’s eastern edge. You can also participate in a wide range of island activities, such as water sports, yoga on the beach, or even joining the choir that meets weekly amidst the dunes for a sing-a-long under the stars. In town, a stop at Teerose Langeoog will provide you with the perfect opportunity to try the region’s famous East Frisian tea ceremony.

Like the other East Frisian islands, Langeoog has a large thalassotherapy wellness center for rainy days, as well as a quaint living-room-sized cinema if you’re looking to get your film fix while on vacation.

To arrive in Langeoog, you must first reach Bensersiel. This can be done by car, by taking a train to Esens and then the bus to Bensersiel, or arriving directly there with FlixBus. You’ll then purchase your Langeoog Card, which allows you access to the ferry which shuttles between Langeoog and Bensersiel around five times daily. The ferry ride takes about 35 minutes. Upon arrival on the island, a rainbow-colored train will take visitors, and their luggage, from the harbour into the heart of the city within five to 10 minutes.

6. Heligoland

Photo: Christian Horz/Shutterstock

Heligoland is located about 40 miles off the mainland and is the only German island in the high seas. The island is actually made up of two parts: one populated, the other one home only to an iconic sandstone dune. The two islands were connected until 1720 when they were severed by an intense sea storm.

The island itself has a fascinating past. Over the years, it’s changed hands between the Danish, British, and Germans. It served as a strategic German naval base for both World Wars and was heavily bombed during and after the Second World War by the British army.

Today, the island sees a lot of day-trippers, but visitors can also stay overnight at one of the many hotels. Spending a few days on this car-free island will allow you enough time to visit the iconic Lange Anna (Tall Anna), a 154-foot-high pinnacle that juts out of the sea. You can also visit WWII bunkers or the local museum to learn more about the history, enjoy the maritime air by following some of the island’s many hiking paths, and even say hello to the resurging numbers of Atlantic seals that can often be found relaxing on the island’s shores.

While on Heligoland, eat all of the fresh seafood you can. You can even wash it down with the Heligolander Eiergrog, a local drink made from brown and white rum, hot water, and egg.

The easiest way to reach Heligoland is to take a ferry from Hamburg, Cuxhaven, or Bremerhaven. It is best to check the times regularly as changes to departure times and cancellations often occur due to unpredictable weather patterns in the region.


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